Thursday, November 29, 2012

End of Semester Office Hours

ASP will be available for our regularly scheduled office hours through Friday, December 14th.

Now is the time to take advantage of our resources!

Prof. Homer, Director
jhomer@law.whittier.edu
TUESDAY: 9:00am-12:00pm
WEDNESDAY: 9:00am-12:00pm
THURSDAY: *Torts A-2 only 3:30pm-5:00pm*
FRIDAY: 12:00pm-1:30pm

Prof. Schandler, Fellow
kschandler@law.whittier.edu
MONDAY: 12:00pm-3:00pm
TUESDAY: 10:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm & 4:00-6:00pm (in the library)
WEDNESDAY: 9:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-5:00pm
THURSDAY: 9:00am-10:30am & 1:00pm-5:00pm
FRIDAY: 12:00pm-1:30pm

Prof. Seigler, Fellow
hseigler@law.whittier.edu
MONDAY: 12:00pm-3:00pm
TUESDAY: 9:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-5:00pm
WEDNESDAY: 10:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm & 4:00-6:00pm (in the library)
THURSDAY :9:00am-10:30pm & 1:00pm-5:00pm
FRIDAY: 12:00pm-1:30pm

GOOD LUCK ON FINALS!

Don't forget to pick up a practice exam packet from ASP in Building One.
1L Packet includes: Civ Pro, Crim Law, Contracts, Torts and Property
2L Packets: Con Law Multiple Choice, UCC Multiple Choice and Evidence Multiple Choice
*all packets include model answers/explanations

Thursday, November 8, 2012

1L Skills Workshop #3 - Next Week!

Save the Date - 1L Skills Workshop #3

The Skills Workshop Series is a series of workshops covering fundamental law school skills. The workshops are presented by section to first year students. Workshops consist of PowerPoint presentations, interactive exercises and an opportunity for questions and answers.

Workshop #3: Learning from Midterms & Preparing for Final Exams: Through the lens of either Civ Pro or Crim Law

SECTION A - Crim Law: Thursday, November 15th, 12:00pm-1:00pm in Room 8
SECTION B - Civ Pro: Wednesday, November 14th, 2:00pm-3:00pm in Room 10
SECTION C - Crim Law: Tuesday, November 13th, 12:00pm-1:00pm in Room 12

Free Pizza Will Be Served During the Workshop
 
 
Can't make your section's workshop?
  • You may come to another section's workshop, just make sure it is on the same subject matter!
  • You may come into ASP office hours & review the workshop with one of the Grad. Fellows.


Email banderson@law.whittier.edu for more info!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Save the Date - 1L Skills Workshop #2

The Skills Workshop Series is a series of workshops covering fundamental law school skills. The workshops are presented by section to first year students. Workshops consist of PowerPoint presentations, interactive exercises and an opportunity for questions and answers.

Workshop #2: Preparing for Midterm Exams: Outlining, Multiple Choice & Essay Exams

SECTION A: Thursday, October 4th, 12:00pm-1:00pm in Room 8
SECTION B: Wednesday, October 3th, 2:00pm-3:00pm in Room 10
SECTION C: Tuesday, October 2th, 12:00pm-1:00pm in Room 12

Can't make your section's workshop?
  • You may come to another section's workshop.
  • You may come into ASP office hours & review the workshop with one of the Grad. Fellows.

Other Upcoming Workshops this Fall:
Workshop #3: Preparing for Final Examinations

Email banderson@law.whittier.edu for more info!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Have you started outlining?

Every semester law students ask themselves: when should I start outlining?  Or rather: just how long can I put off outlining?  

Your average law student will tell you they started outlining in October or November and that they struggled to finish and comprehend their outlines before Final Exams.  This is because outlining should be an on-going process.  The moment an issue or cause of action is completed in class, you should be able to outline it.  This means THE TIME TO START OUTLINING IS NOW!  

1L example:

Torts: By now you should have completed your class time for battery.  You know the rule statement for battery and the elements of battery.  That means you should be able to start your outline.

Property: Property usually starts with Finder's Rights.  If you've completed this concept, you should be able to outline.

Civil Procedure: You should be wrapping up Subject Matter Jurisdiction and possibly Supplemental Jurisdiction.  That means you know the cases you need to know for the exam, the elements of both types of SMJ (Federal Question and Diversity), and can outline.

2L example:

ConLaw: By now you should have completed Judicial Review and possible Justiciability.  Outline those concepts!

CrimPro: While you haven't finished the 4th Amendment readings yet, you probably have completed what "reasonable expectation of privacy" means.  You can starting outlining this concept.

Evidence: By now your class should have completed Logical and Legal Relevance--this means you can outline both concepts!

Give outlining a try, and if you have questions come in to our office hours or email ASP with questions and your outline attached and we'll take a look at it for you!  Once you've got an issue outlined you can then start taking practice exams (more on this later).

Good luck!



Monday, September 10, 2012

Did you miss the workshop last week?

If so, feel free to come by the ASP suite during our office hours and one of the Graduate Fellows would be happy to review the workshop with you one on one.

Prof. Schandler, Fellow
kschandler@law.whittier.edu
MONDAY: 12:00pm-3:00pm
TUESDAY: 10:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm & 4:00-6:00pm (in the library)
WEDNESDAY: 9:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-5:00pm
THURSDAY: 9:00am-10:30am & 1:00pm-5:00pm
FRIDAY: 12:00pm-1:30pm

Prof. Seigler, Fellow **(Prof. Siegler will be out of the office Wed 9/12- Thurs 9/20)**
hseigler@law.whittier.edu
MONDAY: 12:00pm-3:00pm
TUESDAY: 9:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-5:00pm
WEDNESDAY: 10:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm & 4:00-6:00pm (in the library)
THURSDAY: 9:00am-10:30pm & 1:00pm-5:00pm
FRIDAY: 12:00pm-1:30pm

SAVE THE DATE:
Workshop #2: Preparing for Midterm Exams
Section A: Thurs 10/4, 12-1, Room 8
Section B: Wed 10/3, 2-3, Room 10
Section C: Tues 10/2, 12-1, Room 12

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Updated Workshop Time for Section B - Workshop #1

 

Workshop #1: Law School Fundamentals: Efficiency and Effectiveness

SECTION A: Thursday, September 6th, 12:00pm-1:00pm in Room 8
SECTION B: Wednesday, September 5th, 2:00pm-3:00pm in Room 10
SECTION C: Tuesday, September 4th, 12:00pm-1:00pm in Room 12

Other Upcoming Workshops this Fall:
Workshop #2: Preparing for Midterm Examinations
Workshop #3: Preparing for Final Examinations

Email banderson@law.whittier.edu for more info!

*If you are unable to attend your section's workshop, you are welcome to attend one of the other section's workshops*

Monday, August 20, 2012

Save the Date - 1L Skills Workshop #1


The Skills Workshop Series is a series of voluntary workshops covering fundamental law school skills. The workshops are presented by section to first year students, and offer students direct information about fundamental skills such as IRAC, reading, briefing, outlining and effectively preparing for examinations. Workshops consist of PowerPoint presentations, interactive exercises and an opportunity for questions and answers.

Workshop #1: Law School Fundamentals: Efficiency and Effectiveness

SECTION A: Thursday, September 6th, 12:00pm-1:00pm in Room 8
SECTION B: Wednesday, September 5th, 1:30pm-2:30pm in Room 10
SECTION C: Tuesday, September 4th, 12:00pm-1:00pm in Room 12

Other Upcoming Workshops this Fall:
Workshop #2: Preparing for Midterm Examinations
Workshop #3: Preparing for Final Examinations

Email banderson@law.whittier.edu for more info!



Welcome to Whittier Law School!

We would like to extend a big welcome to all the new 1Ls and a welcome back to the 2Ls and 3Ls. This semester ASP can be your resource to work smarter not harder! Feel free to come in with any questions regarding preparing for class, law school study skills or any other law school related question. We are located in Building 1 (by the fountains). Below are our office hours for Fall 2012.

Prof. Homer
jhomer@law.whittier.edu
TUESDAY: 9:00am-12:00pm
WEDNESDAY: 9:00am-12:00pm
THURSDAY: *Torts A-2 only 3:30pm-5:00pm*
FRIDAY: 12:00pm-1:30pm

Prof. Schandler, Fellow
kschandler@law.whittier.edu
MONDAY: 12:00pm-3:00pm
TUESDAY: 10:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm & 4:00-6:00pm (in the library)
WEDNESDAY: 9:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-5:00pm
THURSDAY: 9:00am-10:30am & 1:00pm-5:00pm
FRIDAY: 12:00pm-1:30pm

Prof. Seigler, Fellow
hseigler@law.whittier.edu
MONDAY: 12:00pm-3:00pm
TUESDAY: 9:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-5:00pm
WEDNESDAY: 10:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:00pm & 4:00-6:00pm (in the library)
THURSDAY :9:00am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-5:00pm
FRIDAY: 12:00pm-1:30pm

Friday, April 13, 2012

Preparing for Finals

We're in the home stretch of this semester.  For One-Ls, almost all of your classes were year long.  This means there is added pressure to either improve or stay at the top of the class.  With this increasing pressure it is vital to go into exam-prep mode with an "attack plan."  You know your learning style and strengths best, but here are some tips to make a successful attack plan:

  • Test Prep:
    • Apply the "Study Cycle" to Exam Prep-just like during the normal parts of the year, you should be utilizing the law school study cycle.  The law school study cycle normally consists of: prep for class/take notes in class, review class notes, update outlines, take exams, adjust outline accordingly.  The exam version of this cycle will be slightly condensed after your reading assignments are complete:
  1. Consult Notes/Update Outline-by now your outline should be mostly updated.  Close to exams you should be fine-tuning it by going through your class notes to add any insights your professor gave during class, or add examples or tips to help you write an exam.
  2. Take Practice Exams and Assess-toward the beginning of exam prep it's okay to do practce exams with the outline in front of you.  By the week before exams you should stop using the outline to ensure you've retained the information.  Once you have completed a practice exam, review the model answer.  Take note of any rules you had wrong, any organizational structure you were off on, or where your analysis was off. 
  3. Adjust Outline-based on your self assessment, go back and change your outline.  This is as simple as hand-writing the fix on the already printed page or editing it on the computer.
  4. Go Back to Step 1-By the time you've done a few practice exams, your outline should be very comprehensive and your performance on the exams should improve!
    • Print out your outline for Professor/TA Review Sessions-Having an updated, close to complete outline when walking into a review session will make you that much more calm.  That way you can actually listen to the review and make small edits or changes to your organization.  Another tip for review sessions is to highlight or mark places on your outlines where you have questions.  That way, when the reviewer gets to that topic you will be reminded to raise your hand to get the clarification you need.

  • Test Day:
    • Be Confident-Ideally, walking into an exam you should be relaxed and ready for whatever issues the professor throws at you.  In reality you will most likely be stressed out and nervous but since it's expected it shouldn't throw you.  Combat those nerves with the knowledge that you've studied hard, taken several practice exams, and are prepared.
    • Outline before writing-several students will not listen to this advice and will immediately start writing.  Don't let this freak you out!  In your head you will believe that what they're writing is pure gold.  In reality the people writing are just as nervous as you are and are making the mistake of not organizing their thoughts before answering the question.  Take 25% of the time alotted to outline.  Put your issues in order, include the facts you plan to use, and make sure you aren't missing any issues before you begin typing!
    • If you know you're running out of time outline the rest-odds are there will be an exam you don't finish.  Certain subjects have exams that are known as "race horse" exams.  You usually are not expected to finish writing a thorough analysis on 20-30 issues in an hour and a half.  However, you ARE expected to spot all of the issues.  This means that when you realize you won't finish, at the 5 minute call, outline the rest of the issues.  If you have time throw in the rule statements and a few facts so your professor knows that you spotted the issue and that you recognized the facts that triggered the issue.
    • Avoid discussing the exam after the fact-for your own sanity please resist the urge to discuss the exam immediately after it's over.  This leads to unneeded stress.  What's done is done at that point. You can't change anything.  If you're the person that messed up then you'll feel terrible.  If you're the person telling everyone how great you did you'll come off smug.  Either role is not good, so just don't do it!

  • After your last exam:
    • Enjoy summer!-unless you plan on getting your LLM, the years you have in law school will be the last time you can enjoy "summer break."  CHERISH THIS TIME.  You never get to enjoy being young (or young at heart) with ample amounts of free time in the summer ever again. Decompress and enjoy!  Even if you're taking summer school or interning, your schedule will be much lighter than during the fall and spring semesters.

Friday, March 16, 2012

VARK

VARK is a questionnaire that provides students with a profile of their learning style and preferences. These preferences are about the ways a person wants to take-in and give-out information. A learning style influences how you understand and process information best. Here at ASP we recomend determing your learning style and tailoring your study habits to your learning preferces.

To determine your learning style fill out the questionnaire here:
http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire

Based on your learning preferance, here are some law school tips from ASP!

Visual Learners:

Visual learners could also be described as Graphic learners. They prefer diagrams, charts, graphs, flowcharts, etc. Visual does not include videos or powerpoint.
  • Create flowcharts
  • Use highlighting, circling,
    boxing, and underlying as visual cues for briefs, notes and exams
  • Place emphasis on determining what visual aid best works for you, i.e. thought bubbles, charts, graphs, etc and implement throughout study process

Auditory Learners:

Auditory Learners prefer information that is heard or spoken. They learn best from lectures, tutorials, and tapes, discussing the material and talking things through.

  • Place emphasis on listening in class vs. writing down everything said during class
  • Talk with classmates after class about what you learned
  • Purchase/use review cds and tapes
  • Participate in class discussion

Read/Write Learners:

Read/Write learners have a preference for information displayed as words. They prefer text-based input and output, reading and writing in all forms.

  • Place emphasis on writing notes prior to class and during class
  • Create checklists for subjects
  • Learns well from powerpoints
  • Focus on words and their meaning

Kinesthetic Learners:

The perceptual preference related to the use of experience and practice (real or simulated).

  • Create and engage in hypotheticals
  • Find the connection to reality
  • Include lots of examples in notes and outlines
  • Put yourself in the shoes of the student who the Professor is speaking to.
  • Participate in class discussion, request more examples or practical application in-class

Information for this blog posting adapted in part from the VARK website.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Welcome Guest Blogger Kristi McCart

Law school is a process.  Many people struggle through the first year and that's normal.  That's what's expected--it's kind of the entire point of 1L year.  The best analogy I can think of is it's like you are learning to swim and your swim instructor throws you in the deep end and just tells you to swim.  You're expected to figure out how to do it yourself--with an occasional guiding hand provided by your professors and ASP.  2L Kristi McCart describes the moment when she figured out how she needed to approach law school to be successful:
 Law School Doesn't Click for Everyone.

A few fortunate students understand law school and how to take tests the first day of classes. A couple more students understand after their first or second round of exams. After a full-year of classes, some students still cannot grasp the concept of law school and how to succeed.  I found myself in this group.  While I got mediocre exam scores, I felt unprepared for most exams.

I did not get my "Ah-ha!" moment until two weeks into my second year of law school.  It was not until Professor Homer and the ASP Grad Fellows gave my Legal Methods class a learning test called VARK. VARK provides students with detailed learning approaches based on their specifc learning type.  For the longest time, I thought I learned best visually; if it was written on the board or put in front on me, I would retain it.  Based on VARK, I found I am a kinesthetic learner, meaning I learn best by doing: working through hypos and applying rule statements and issues to real-life problems.  This discovery of my learning type made a world of difference. 

This second year, I better allocated my time from memorizing outlines to doing practice exams for each professor.  Instead of waiting to do outlines one week before exams, I had outlines completed in advanced so I could focus on answering multiple hypos and re-writing practice exams.  Because these approaches were better suited for my learning style, I was able to study more effectively and efficiently.

Once a student knows how to study, they can start focusing on how to produce an "A" exam.   During the first year, the Legal Writing professors constantly tell students, "When conducting your analysis, always state the legally significant facts plus why."  Well, this sounds simple enough.  In reality, it is simple once you master the skill, but it is difficult to master the skill when the only time it is practiced is on exams.  Legal Methods provided a judgement-free, grade-free environment to perfect these skills.  I found it was a lot easier to make mistakes during the learning process when my entire semester grade was not at stake.

All in all, do not feel ashamed if your first year grades are not above-average.  There is still time to do a self-assessment and find which approaches lead to your most effective and efficient studying. Contact the staff ASP and take advantage of the resources available now.  You'll thank them in the end.  Good luck in your law school endeavors. 
 Thank you Kristi!  The improvements you've made and your ability to self-assess is amazing!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Guest Blogger!

 ASP is happy to welcome a few guest bloggers for the next few posts!  These guest bloggers will be current students which should give you greater incite to the ASP experience. 

Many first and second year students are reluctant to ask for help--and that's okay.  You probably went to law school because you have a strong Type-A personality; and your strong sense of self led you to believe that your personal study methods were and will always be fine and dandy.  Many students, even after a semester or two of dissatisfaction with grades, are STILL reluctant to ask for help.  This is why first years are encouraged to come to ASP from the get-go.  This is also why students are encouraged (or sometimes required) to take Legal Methods I, a course designed to improve the law school skills we know you have.  If you did not have those skills, you would not have been admitted.  ASP is here to help you develop those skills.  Here is Guest Blogger Erin Langdorf-McKinley's take on her experience with ASP and Legal Methods I:

I have to say that at first, I was not thrilled to be in Legal Methods I. I figured I would just go and listen to what they have to say, but not try. I thought I did everything first year fine and they couldn’t help me. I was wrong. The extra practice of writing essays and taking multiple choice tests did help. The feedback on each essay told me something new and showed me where I needed to work harder. I learned that I needed to take it slower on MC and read the call of the question first and read every answer choice before I picked one.

I also changed the way I studied. First year, I did the majority of outlining during the couple days leading up to finals. I also studied in a study group of four the whole time; I studied from 9am to 10pm for three weeks straight. This method, I found out, was not helpful. I liked the study group aspect, but by the end of finals, I was wiped.

During this last set of finals, I had finished all of my outlines a week before finals started. Instead of cramming long days for the whole time, I worked until about 5pm and then headed home, watched some of my television shows, went out a little, went to the gym. I didn’t stop my life for finals. Instead of a group of people, I studied with one person and did more practice exams. I felt a lot less stressed and more relaxed going in.

Before Legal Methods I was happy with a 2.7 or 2.8 in a class. After Legal Methods I, my GPA for Fall 2011 went up significantly and my CGPA went up as well. I know that at first, some people (including myself) might be hurt or upset to be in Legal Methods I, but don’t fight it. It helps and the professors know what they are talking about.


A special thank you to Erin for her candid account of her experience and her amazing ability to improve her GPA and legal skills overall!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

ASP Spring 2012 Office Hours

Prof. Homer
jhomer@law.whittier.edu
MONDAY: 9:00am-11:00am & 2:00pm-5:00p
TUESDAY: 9:00am-12:00pm
THURSDAY: 9:00am-11:00am & 2:00pm-5:00pm

Prof. Dombrow
kdombrow@law.whittier.edu
MONDAY: 10:00am-11:00am & 2:00pm-6:00pm (in the library)
TUESDAY: 9:00am-12:00pm
THURSDAY: 9:00am-11:00pm & 2:00pm-5:00pm

Prof. Gutterud
hgutterud@law.whittier.edu
MONDAY: 8:00am-11:00am & 2:00pm-4:00pm
TUESDAY: 9:00am-12:00pm
THURSDAY: 10:00am-11:00am & 2:00pm-6:00pm (in library)

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Ohhhhhhhh Back To School

Ohhhhhhhhh
Back to school
Back to school
To prove to dad that I'm not a fool,
I've got my lunch packed up,
My boots tied tight
I hope I don't get in a fight,
Ohhhhh
Back to school
Back to school
Back to school...

-The immortal wisdom of Adam Sandler's "Billy Madison"

Hopefully you don't judge ASP's taste in movies, however this song is particularly apt for the second semester "Back to School" time.  You've likely done more relaxing and sleeping in than you ever have during a vacation for sheer need to catch up on the rest you lost during first semester.  The hope was that you'd be reinvigorated and ready to take on second semester.  The reality, honestly, is you're probably not even close to reinvigorated.  You're anxious because not all of your grades are in, you're tired because you procrastinated on doing your winter reading and had to stay up late to catch up, and you're frustrated because no one (except your classmates) seems to understand the stress you're under.  THIS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL!  So how do you deal with this?  Just like we discussed in Workshop #3 last semester, now is the time to assess your study plan from last semester and make a new schedule for yourself:
  • Go buy a 2012 calendar to create your study schedule
  • Add your classes
  • Add in "me" time
    • when you work-out, sleep-in, hang out with friends, etc.
  • When you get your syllabi add-in when major assignments are due, and continue adding reading assignments
  • Add goals for when you want to start outlining
Preparing a schedule for yourself sounds like a tedious task, especially when you consider the above list of things to add to it.  However, keep perspective: YOU'VE ALREADY DONE THIS ONCE!  You have an entire semester under your belt already so this is old hat.  Now is the time to realize you've made it this far so you know you can do it! Were you a little tired sometimes?--Of course.  Were you stressed out a lot?--Yeah.  But at the end of the semester you sat for your exams and you came out of them alive and well in the end.  So now is the time to think about what you can do to make things a little more manageable, make life a little more enjoyable during second semester: did you take the semester off from working out and during break realize you really missed it? Did you not allow yourself to EVER sleep in and crash toward the end of the semester?  Did you miss occasionally hanging out with family or friends?  If so, it's time to include that in your "me" time because you're in law school for YOU.  That means you should understand that yes, law school is difficult, but not so difficult that all happiness and enjoyment in life should be sacrificed.

Make this semester an enjoyable one for you outside of school and you might enjoy law school that much more too.